Title: Little Spark of Madness

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in anyway, that belongs to JK Rowlings. I don't make any money from this either. I just do it for fun :) All original characters are my own, those would be the ones that you don't recognize from the books.

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I would prefer to be a little nervous, because when you stop

being nervous is kind of when you stop caring.

Conor Oberst

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McGonagall Cottage

Floo Room

Harry, James, Remus and Peter were hanging out downstairs after Hermione had come to Harry's door earlier.

Remus and Peter were engaged in a game of wizarding chess while James and Harry were lounging on the sofa talking about how Hermione had reacted earlier when the floor flared up. Green flames dancing to life as they lit up the room with a momentary green glow.

Stepping out of the flames first was an older man who was most likely once a dark haired handsome man. However age had spotted his dark hair with grey than black, his face with hard lines from years of frowning.

His dress robes were perfection, perfectly clean and wrinkle free even though he had just gone through the floo.

Gripping his cane slightly as he peered over his shoulder to watch as his son appeared close behind him.

James would have laughed at seeing his friend dressed to Aristocratic perfection, if his father hadn't been there. His dark robes spot free like his father. He was wearing a black shirt and a dark silver tie completing his look of morning.

Orion Black bowed his head to Harry, "Good evening young Mister McGonagall. We are here to escort your sister to the Malfoy Yule Ball. Do you know if the young lady is ready?"

Harry stood and shakily, obviously without years of practice, bowed his head back, "The last time I saw her she was almost ready. Let me go up and see."

As Harry started heading towards the stairs his Aunt appeared blocking his bath, "Ah. Mr. Black, Welcome." Turning her head towards Harry, "I will go check on her, dear boy. Why don't you show our guests to the sitting room."

Harry nodded as he glanced up at Mr. Black before his eyes landed on his friend, "You look good Sirius. You are going to flip when you see Hermione. I don't think I have ever seen my sister so put together."

Sirius nodded his head although it was apparent that he was clenching his jaw before he relaxed, "I am sure she will be lovely." Everything about Sirius reminded him of someone reciting all the lines over and over in his head.

FInally Harry couldn't take it as he kept glancing up at Mr. Black, "Can I speak with you in private Sirius?"

The boys watched as Sirius eyes glanced to his father quickly before going back to Harry, "Of course Harry."

As they walked from the room Harry couldn't help but feel as if Sirius was acting as a mindless pureblood, he was never so formal or blunt as he was being at the moment. Once they were clear from the other room Harry turned on Sirius. "What is going on with you? Are you nervous? I know my sister is."

Sirius clenched his jaw tightly before releasing some of the tension in it. "I have to be perfect tonight, my parents are demanding that I am perfect to win her favor."

Harry frowned as he took a step back, "You are one of my best mates Sirius. You really are. Hermione is my sister though and she is honestly terrified of tonight. She is scared of going to a ball and knowing she cannot count on anyone. Anyone Sirius. She doesn't trust you to protect her if she needs it."

Harry watched as Sirius almost physically deflated in front of him before continuing, "I know you haven't exactly been warm to her. I know you though, you are a good person. Please don't act like a statue tonight with her. Don't think about her as a potential wife, think of her as a friend. Just try to be there for her."

Sirius' eyes went from deflated to stone once more, "I don't really have a choice in that. I have to act a certain way, my parents will be there. Do you actually think I would hurt her?"

Harry stood taller for a moment matching Sirius' glare, "Of course not. Don't pull that with me. She is my sister though and I will be worried about her. I didn't mean you would hurt her intentionally, but I do expect you to be there for her if someone else does. Or someone makes her uncomfortable. I expect you to watch out for my sister since I can't be there. I expect you to get whatever anger you have for your parents out of your bloody system before you do hurt her UNintentionally."

With that Harry walked around Sirius and left him there to think over his words before coming back into the room just in time to see Hermione and his Aunt coming don't the stairs. Smiling up at her she nervously smiled back as she took the stairs slowly one at a time, no doubt trying to avoid tripping over her dress robes.

He noticed Sirius' father eyeing Hermione as well as she came down the stairs from the doorway to the floo room with a slight nod of approval at her appearance.

While he knew that he was only caring about how she would be seen as a potential future member of his family. Harry saw his sister that he had literally been through hell with looking beautiful. "You look amazing Mione."

Giving her brother a small smile she nodded her head in thanks before something caught her eye from behind him. Turning slightly he saw Sirius stepping out from the other room.

Harry took a step back as Sirius slowly stepped closer to Hermione. Everyone in the room could see her stiffen as if he was a snake. Harry noticed that even James was wincing at the tension in the room.

Hermione watched as Sirius held his hand out for hers as he put the other behind his back while bowing to her. She gripped the handkerchief that her Aunt had given her just moments ago before placing her hand in his. She bit her lower lip praying that he wouldn't feel how badly her hand was shaking at the moment.

Sirius stilled for a moment before bringing her hand to his lips pressing a small kiss to the backside of her hand, "You look lovely tonight Miss Hermione. Thank you for accepting the invitation from House Black for accompanying me this evening."

Frowning slightly at his obviously rehearsed words she glanced to her brother and his friends. Seeing their smiles of encouragement and Mr. Black's stern look she quickly looked back to Sirius, "It was kind of your family to think of me. I am sure this evening will allow us to get to know one another."

Sirius stood and turned to his father while not releasing her arm. The movement tucked her directly to his side, her arm wrapped under his. She hadn't realized until this moment how much shorter than Sirius she was as she barely reached his shoulders.

Her Aunt came over and kissed Hermione on the cheek followed by giving Sirius a stern look and a small bow of her head, "Take care of my niece young Mister Black."

She turned back to the elder Black, "What time should I be expecting my niece back tonight Mr. Black?"

Orion Black pinched his lips for a moment, "We will have her returned to you by two in the morning. I am assuming she has full access to your floo? She can floo here directly from Grimmauld Place."

Sirius look horrified at the thought of Hermione being in his house causing Hermione to flinch and try and hold in her embarrassment. Holding her head high as she looked to her Aunt remembering their conversation earlier, "I can just floo from Malfoy Manor. I wouldn't wish to put you out Mr. Black. Thank you for your consideration though."

She felt Sirius' grip loosen a bit as her stomach dropped a bit further knowing that he was relieved.

Before she knew it she had said goodbye to her Aunt, brother and his friends. Although Sirius didn't say much to them at all, even though they were more his friends than hers. The only real thing she had seen was when Sirius nodded to her brother while locking eyes with him.

Stepping into the floo after Mr. Black raised his wand to her and muttered a quick spell. "A spell to protect you from the soot due to floo travel."

Hermione just nodded holding onto Sirius arm as his father nodded to them, "Floo to your Uncles he will be expecting you, I will meet you there with your mother."

Sirius nodded before tightening his grip on Hermione's arm and throwing the floo power down, "Piceous Estate".

Blinking her eyes as they arrived, Hermione looked around for a moment but the room was void of anyone at the moment.

Sirius tugged her out of the Floo before turning to face her, "This is my Uncle Cygnus' home. Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa live here. They are coming tonight as well."

Hermione just nodded and kept silent as she looked around the room, She had never heard of a 'Piceous Estate' before in her own time. She wondered if it belonged Narcissa in her time since Sirius had been the last Black and had unfortunately been a wanted fugitive at the time.

Stopping in her tracks she briefly wondered if this had been where Bellatrix and the Lestranges had been staying upon their escape from Azkaban.

Snapping out of her thoughts as she heard a door open, "Oh Hermione, you look positively lovely this evening." The sweet bell of Narcissa's voice floated over her as she turned and smiled at the youngest sister.

Glancing at Narcissa she was in a deep, almost black burgundy dress that had an empire waistline with long sleeves. "I love your dress Narcissa."

The other girl clasped her hands in front of her and in a lady like form curtsied slightly, "Thank you, mother bought it for me at Twilfitt and Tattings. Where did you go?"

Hermione gripped Sirius' arm slightly, "Oh the same. Did they try to dress you inappropriately as well?"

Narcissa giggled slightly before looking over her shoulder as if wanting to make sure no one was listening, "Every time. They once tried putting me in a low cut piece when I was 12. Can you believe that? We definitely need more shopping options, I fully agree with you. If we hadn't been in school until recently I would had talked to my mother about a trip to Paris to find something. Next year maybe we can go?"

Hermione smiled kindly and nodded her head even though she would love nothing more than to run from here as quickly as possible. "That sounds wonderful. If I am invited again next year that is."

Narcissa just looked at Sirius for a moment with an authoritative look, "Oh i don't think that will be a problem. I don't see Sirius withdrawing his Marriage request for your hand." Softening her features on't slightly, "Besides you would do wonderful beings associated with our house."

Hermione nodded politely forcing herself not to wretch in the nearest bin. Trying to change the subject, "What about you Narcissa?"

Tilting her head in confusion as her eyes narrowed just slightly, although not enough to cause a wrinkle., "What about me Hermione? I am very proud to be a Black."

Hermione straightened her spine while gripping Sirius, "I didn't assume you weren't proud to be a Black. Please don't take offense. I was just asking if you knew who you would be marrying?"

Narcissa immediately smiled softly changing her whole demeanor. "Oh no not yet. My father is considering many marriage requests though. I don't know too many names though, but I have heard him mention Alden Nott and Bartimus Crouch Jr. Although since I am the youngest he is focusing on my sister's first. Bellatrix is engaged to Rodolphus Lestrange and Andromeda… well she is engaged to Henry Flint."

Narcissa looked uneasy about speaking near the end, her voice got lower and Hermione noticed the older girl glancing over her shoulder once.

Hermione looked at Sirius questioned as he rolled his eyes, "Am I missing something?"

Sirius barked out a short laugh, "Picked up on that didn't you? My dear cousin Andromeda is fighting the Marriage Agreement since she was already dating someone else. She is as excited about marrying old Henry Flint as you are about marrying me one day."

Narcissa frowned, "She knew father had taken Marriage Requests for her, she was unwise to accept dating anyone."

Sirius scowled at his cousin, "Just say it Cissy. She was dating a muggleborn and Uncle Cygnus about died from a heart attack. Stop being so damn polite about it."

Hermione's eyes widened as she realized Andromeda must have been dating Ted Tonks, Tonks' father! Looking between the cousins as they glared at one another, well Sirius was glaring, Narcissa looked composed as usual although her nose was slightly upturned as if she just smelled something putrid. Swallowing, "What if she marries her boyfriend? Surely your father could do negotiations with his father?"

Sirius rolled his eyes and dropped her arm from his, "I am done." Before walking across the room to look at a painting of a small child.

Narcissa frowned at him, "Very mature Sirius." Looking back to Hermione, "You are very kind Hermione, but that wouldn't be allowed. Father will align us with our husbands."

Knowing that she was making herself come off as naive, but knowing it was for the best for these people to underestimate her until it was too late. "But what if she doesn't? Accept this Henry Flint?"

Narcissa's eyes turned slightly harder and for a moment Hermione thought she wouldn't answer. In a hushed voice as she stepped closer, "It wouldn't not be accepted. She would be removed from the family. It is not talked about though, so I wouldn't bring it up again if I were you. Excuse me I need to go finish getting ready myself."

Hermione knew better than to continue at that point so she just nodded her head as Narcissa left her alone with Sirius once more. The floo behind her lit up the room as Sirius' parents stepped through."Sirius! Why have you left your date's side!" Turning her attention to Hermione she gave Hermione a smile that reminded her of a predator seeing their prey. "Hermione you look lovely this evening."

Nodding her head Hermione couldn't help but nothing that so far the entirety of the Blacks had all referred to her as 'lovely' with the exception of Sirius' father who hadn't spoken a word directly to her.

Curtsing slightly at the compliment, "Thank you Lady Black, and thank you for inviting me this evening." She may not be excited to be heading into the snake den this evening, but her mother had taught her manners. If only she could truly kill someone with kindness.

Walburga looked as if she was showering in her praise for a moment as Hermione knew exactly how to play the woman. "Think nothing of it, this should definitely help you be noticed in the right circles. Are you wearing my gift dear?"

Hermione immediately turned to show the woman her hair comb, internally grinning when she thought of the perfect response. "Yes. It was a lovely gift."

Turning back around to find Sirius once again at her side, "Oh?"

Sirius just looked at her with a blank expression before looking to his father, "See, she is in one piece still."

Orion Black seemed to be the master of not showing expression. Hermione was sure if he'd been alive when Severus Snape was older they would have been the best of friends, they could not laugh at the same things. "Small favors I guess."

After that Sirius and Hermione joined his parents in the floo that was probably the size of her old bedroom. Mr. Black called out Malfoy Manor as they were all encompassed in the green flames. Hermione gripped Sirius' arm tighter than she ever had previously, her stomach in an almost constant flip knowing that they were heading to a place that still haunted her dreams.

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Another chapter down! And the next chapter will be the Malfoy Yule Ball! ekk